Trump Says U.S. Might Pay Oil Companies To Rebuild Venezuela's Energy Sector: They'll Get Reimbursed'

"In an interview with NBC News on Monday, Trump stated that the U.S. government may pay oil companies to rebuild Venezuela's energy industry: We have to fix the country first. You can't have an election. There's no way the people could even vote, Trump said about the possibility of a vote in the next month. No, it's going to take a period of time."

"I think we can do it in less time than that, but it'll be a lot of money, he said. A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it, and then they'll get reimbursed by us or through revenue."

"On Sunday, the president explained that he is interested in Venezuela's oil reserves. We are going to have to have big investments by the oil companies to bring back the infrastructure, he said aboard Air Force One. The oil companies are ready to go, they are going to build back the infrastructure."

U.S. forces invaded Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro, who pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in federal court in New York. Venezuelan officials reported at least 80 people killed during the raid. The raid followed months of U.S. actions including bombing boats and seizing two Venezuelan oil tankers, which the U.S. said were carrying drugs. President Donald Trump said the U.S. may subsidize oil companies to rebuild Venezuela's dilapidated energy infrastructure and suggested reimbursements could come from the government or future revenue. Trump said elections are not possible until the country is repaired and framed U.S. actions as targeting drug networks.

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